Itinerary
HotelWelcome Dinner (D)
Land at Tribhuvan International Airport, where a Walk Through Nepal representative meets you and transfers you to your hotel. If you arrive early enough, the rest of the day is free, most trekkers use it to walk around Thamel, pick up any last-minute gear, or rest before an early Lukla flight. In the evening, your guide runs a short trip briefing covering the route, packing check, and permit paperwork, followed by a welcome dinner together.
Kathmandu
~250 m 8 km TeahouseBreakfastLunchDinner
Flight duration: ~30 min | Trek: 3–4 hrs
The early morning Lukla flight usually departs before 7:00 AM, touching down at Tenzing-Hillary Airport (2,845 m / 9,334 ft). Landing on one of the shortest, most sharply angled runways in commercial aviation is a genuine, adrenaline-spiking highlight in its own right.
From Lukla, your foot journey officially begins. The trail drops gently through the hillside village of Chheplung (2,700 m / 8,858 ft) and traces the glacier-fed Dudh Koshi River down to Phakding (2,610 m / 8,563 ft). Along this stretch, you'll walk past beautifully carved stone mani walls and catch your first close look at traditional prayer wheels turned continuously by the river's current.
By losing roughly 250 meters of altitude from your initial landing point, this short 3-to-4-hour trek is a deliberate design choice. It gives your body a comfortable, low-stress head start to adapt to the mountain environment before the rigorous uphill climbing begins tomorrow.
~830 m 11 km 6–7 hrs TeahouseBreakfastLunchDinner
This is your first genuinely challenging day on the trail. Leaving Phakding behind, the route snakes along the valley floor, crossing the roaring Dudh Koshi River multiple times via high-slung steel suspension bridges.
You will first arrive at the vibrant village of Monjo (2,835 m / 9,301 ft), where our team handles your official permit registration at the gateway checkpoint for Sagarmatha National Park. From there, the trail dips down to the riverside settlement of Jorsalle (2,740 m / 8,989 ft) before hitting Larja Dobhan, the dramatic, crashing confluence of the Dudh Koshi and Bhote Koshi rivers.
Here, you will cross the celebrated Hillary Suspension Bridge (2,900 m / 9,514 ft), an exhilarating span hung approximately 125 meters directly over the river gorge.
Once across, the real test begins: a steady, steep two-hour uphill grind through deep alpine pine forests. This climb requires a slow, rhythmic pace, but your hard work is beautifully rewarded halfway up at a distinct clearing where, weather permitting, you will catch your very first, unforgettable glimpse of Mount Everest peeking over the Lhotse ridge. Your day ends as you step into the natural amphitheater of Namche Bazaar (3,440 m / 11,286 ft), the bustling cultural heart of the Khumbu.
TeahouseBreakfastLunchDinner
Nestled in a dramatic horseshoe-shaped mountain basin, Namche Bazaar (3,440 m / 11,286 ft) is where we stage your first dedicated acclimatization day. But don’t let the word "rest" fool you, this day is all about active recovery, following the golden mountaineering principle: climb high, sleep low.
In the morning, we take a steady uphill acclimatization hike to the iconic Hotel Everest View (3,880 m / 12,730 ft). Perched high on a ridge, this spot rewards your effort with an unbelievably close, wide-angle panorama of Mount Everest, Lhotse, and the sharp, elegant spire of Ama Dablam. Pushing your body up to nearly 3,900 meters triggers your system to safely adapt to lower oxygen levels before you head back down to Namche's lower altitude to sleep.
Your afternoon is completely free to explore the vibrant terraced streets of the Sherpa capital. You can browse the local bakeries for a great cup of coffee, visit the Sherpa Culture Museum, or explore Namche’s famous Saturday Market if our itinerary timing aligns.
Why Active Acclimatization Works: Staying completely still at high altitude actually slows down your body's adaptation process. Light, uphill trekking increases your heart and respiration rates, safely signaling your body to produce more red blood cells without over-exhausting your muscles.
~420 m 10 km 5–6 hrs TeahouseBreakfastLunchDinner
Leaving Namche Bazaar, the trail snakes along a high, panoramic ridge line. This section is widely considered one of the most scenic walks on earth, offering near-constant, unhindered views of Mount Everest, Lhotse, and the striking, elegant profile of Ama Dablam directly ahead.
Eventually, the trail dips out of the high alpine air, descending gently through shaded woods to the rushing waters of the Dudh Koshi River at Phunki Thanga (3,250 m / 10,663 ft). This tranquil riverside settlement serves as our scheduled lunch stop, allowing you to rest and refuel right before tackling the afternoon's challenge.
From the river crossing, the path turns directly upward. You will begin a steep, steady two-hour physical climb through deep pine and brilliant rhododendron forests. While demanding, the canopy offers cool shade until you finally crest the ridge and step onto the wide saddle of Tengboche (3,867 m / 12,687 ft).
Tengboche Monastery, perched against a backdrop of towering Himalayan giants, is the undisputed spiritual heart of the entire Khumbu region. If our trail timing aligns perfectly, the monastery doors open to visitors for the late afternoon puja (monastic prayer ceremony), a deeply moving, peaceful experience of chanting and horns that is absolutely worth staying for.
~550 m 11 km 5–6 hrs TeahouseBreakfastLunchDinner
The day begins with a gentle descent from the Tengboche ridge through the deep, moss-draped rhododendron and birch forests of Deboche (3,820 m / 12,532 ft). Keep an eye out for wildlife along this peaceful stretch, as Himalayan tahr and musk deer frequently graze near the trail.
The path soon reaches the bottom of the gorge, where you will cross a suspension bridge over the rushing waters of the Imja Khola (~3,750 m / 12,303 ft). From here, the trail steadily climbs up the valley wall to Pangboche (3,930 m / 12,893 ft). This historic village is one of the oldest permanent settlement in the entire Khumbu region and home to the revered Pangboche Monastery has long been associated with Everest expeditions and Sherpa mountaineering traditions.
As you push past Pangboche and hike toward the small settlement of Shomare (4,040 m / 13,254 ft), you will experience a dramatic environmental shift. The protective tree line disappears almost entirely, giving way to sparse alpine scrub, hardy bushes, and wind-scoured terrain. You have officially left the forest behind and stepped into the high-altitude alpine zone, where the massive, icy faces of Lhotse and Ama Dablam dominate an increasingly raw and beautiful horizon.
TeahouseBreakfastLunchDinner
Your second scheduled acclimatization day takes place in the high valley settlement of Dingboche (4,410 m / 14,468 ft). Because you are now well above the critical 4,000-meter threshold, this day is absolutely vital for ensuring a safe and successful push toward Base Camp over the coming days.
Just like in Namche, we maximize your recovery by putting the "climb high, sleep low" strategy into active practice. In the morning, we take on a challenging, steep acclimatization trek up Nangkartshang Hill (5,083 m / 16,676 ft).
While the thin air makes this a genuinely tough, slow-paced climb, crossing the 5,000-meter mark pays off immensely. From the rocky ridge line, you are rewarded with an extraordinary, sweeping view of the Imja Valley and the massive, icy block of Makalu (8,485 m / 27,838 ft)—the world's fifth-highest mountain—towering majestically to the east.
After spending some time at the top to let your body adjust to the higher altitude, we head back down to the warmer, oxygen-rich environment of Dingboche for a well-deserved afternoon of rest, hydration, and a hearty dinner.
~530 m 9 km 5–6 hrs TeahouseBreakfastLunchDinner
The journey resumes as you ascend a gentle slope out of the Dingboche valley, crossing a wide glacial terrace to reach the tiny collection of tea houses at Thukla (4,620 m / 15,157 ft). This is a perfect place to pause and mentally prepare for the steep, grueling hour-long climb directly ahead up the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier.
At the crest of this climb lies Thukla Pass (4,830 m / 15,846 ft), widely considered one of the most poignant and memorable segments of the entire trek.
The ridge is lined with dozens of stone chortens (monuments) wrapped in weathered prayer flags, dedicated to the memory of climbers and Sherpas who lost their lives on Everest and neighboring peaks. Standing among the memorials of legendary mountaineers like Scott Fischer and Rob Hall, who perished during the infamous 1996 storm, presents a quiet, deeply sobering moment that underscores the raw, uncompromising power of the Himalayas.
Once you pass the memorials, the trail flattens out significantly. You will follow a rough, rock-strewn path tracking alongside the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier before arriving at your high alpine outpost for the night: the stark, glacier-framed settlement of Lobuche (4,940 m / 16,207 ft).
~200 m net ~500 m 11.5 km 8–9 hrs TeahouseBreakfastLunchDinner
The trek pushes higher as you follow the rocky moraine of the Khumbu Glacier toward Gorak Shep (5,164 meters / 16,942 feet), the highest permanent lodge settlement on the route. You will reach this desolate, ice-rimmed outpost by late morning. Here, we stop briefly to drop our heavy duffel bags, grab a quick lunch, and fuel up for the monumental push to our ultimate goal.
Leaving Gorak Shep, you begin the final 2.5-to-3-hour trek over the shifting rocks, gravel, and bare ice ridges of the active Khumbu Glacier toward Everest Base Camp (5,364 m / 17,598 ft).
As noted earlier, there is no view of the actual Everest summit from the ground here, the massive shoulder of Nuptse (7,861 m) entirely blocks it from this specific angle. However, standing directly at the base of the colossal, tumbling walls of the Khumbu Icefall is an intensely moving experience. If you trek during the spring climbing season, you will find yourself walking through a sprawling, vibrant city of colorful expedition tents filled with elite mountaineers preparing for the summit.
After spending time celebrating your arrival and taking photos at the iconic marker rock, you will retrace your steps for another 2.5 to 3 hours across the glacial moraine, returning to the relative shelter of Gorak Shep for a well-earned dinner and an early night.
~381 m ~1,170 m 16 km 7–8 hrs TeahouseBreakfastLunchDinner
Today brings the ultimate mountain view of the entire journey. A pre-dawn start, usually around 4:30 AM in the freezing, biting air, begins the steep, demanding climb up to Kala Patthar (5,545 m / 18,192 ft). Kala Patthar is widely regarded as the best accessible viewpoint of Mount Everest during the trek. Watching the first golden rays of sunrise strike the apex of Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse is a profoundly moving reward for your physical effort.
After capturing your landmark photos, you will descend back down the rocky slopes to the lodges at Gorak Shep (5,164 m / 16,942 ft) for a warm, heavy breakfast.
With bags packed, you'll begin the long journey home, retracing your steps back down the lateral moraine of the glacier. The trail winds past Lobuche (4,940 m / 16,207 ft) and shifts down the Thukla Pass before branching into the wide, wind-swept alpine meadows of Pheriche (4,371 m / 14,340 ft). By descending nearly 1,200 vertical meters from the morning's peak, your body is instantly flooded with thick, noticeably higher oxygen levels than Gorak Shep. This massive altitude relief brings immediate physical relaxation and almost always makes this the deepest, most restorative night of sleep of the entire trek.
~930 m 18 km 6–7 hrs TeahouseBreakfastLunchDinner
This is a classic, rewarding descent day as you retrace your steps back down the valley. Leaving the high alpine flats of Pheriche, the trail drops smoothly through the stone walls of Pangboche (3,930 m / 12,893 ft) and dips briefly through the forest at Deboche before climbing back onto the wide, spiritual saddle of Tengboche (3,867 m / 12,687 ft).
From Tengboche, you will plunge down a steep, dusty decline through rhododendron canopies until you reach the bridge over the Dudh Koshi River at Phunki Thanga (3,250 m / 10,663 ft). After a final, steady push back up the opposite valley wall, the trail smooths out into a spectacularly wide, cliff-hugging path.
With altitude no longer a limiting factor and oxygen levels steadily increasing with every hour of descent, your pace will pick up noticeably. Lungs feel clear, muscles move easily, and the sheer joy of walking through thick air makes this one of the most celebratory and genuinely enjoyable days of the entire expedition. The day concludes as you walk back into the amphitheater of Namche Bazaar (3,440 m / 11,286 ft), where hot showers, bakeries, and Wi-Fi await.
~595 m 19 km 6–7 hrs TeahouseBreakfastLunchDinner
The final trekking day brings your incredible Himalayan loop full circle. Leaving Namche Bazaar (3,440 m / 11,286 ft) in the morning, you will retrace your steps back down the steep valley walls toward the riverside pathways.
You’ll cross the Hillary Suspension Bridge one last time and pass through the national park checkpoints at Jorsalle (2,740 m / 8,989 ft) and Monjo (2,835 m / 9,301 ft). From there, the trail winds smoothly along the glacier-fed waters of the Dudh Koshi River, guiding you back through the familiar lunch stop of Phakding (2,610 m / 8,563 ft). While this is a long day of hiking, covering roughly 19 kilometers, the terrain is safely in your favor, almost entirely trending downhill or flattening out.
The final hour of the trek presents a gentle, steady uphill incline that brings you directly through the stone pillars of the Pasang Lhamu Memorial Gate in Lukla (2,845 m / 9,334 ft). Walking back into town with the entire 130-kilometer route behind you brings an unforgettable, profound sense of closure. Tonight, you'll share a celebratory final dinner with your guiding team and porters, raising a toast to an incredible journey before your early morning flight back to Kathmandu tomorrow.
HotelBreakfastFarewell Dinner (D)
Flights out of Lukla (2,845 m / 9,334 ft) are strictly weather-dependent, and mountain flight delays are common, particularly during the shoulder seasons. We deliberately build this buffer day into our itinerary to absorb that weather risk, ensuring a flight delay never threatens your international departure out of Kathmandu (1,400 m / 4,593 ft).
If our morning flight departs exactly as scheduled, you will land back in the capital by mid-morning, leaving the rest of the day entirely yours to enjoy. It’s a perfect afternoon for a long, hot luxury shower, hunting for cashmere and spices in the bustling alleys of Thamel, or sharing a final, celebratory farewell dinner with your guiding team to toast your successful return from Everest Base Camp.
Our Safety Policy: Because your international connection is a priority, Walk Through Nepal actively monitors real-time Khumbu weather tracking networks. In the rare event of prolonged flight cancellations, having this built-in buffer day gives us the critical window needed to arrange alternative logistics, such as helicopter back-ups, without disrupting your travel plans.
Breakfast
Your final day begins with a smooth, private transfer from your hotel to Tribhuvan International Airport (1,400 m / 4,593 ft) in Kathmandu, timed perfectly to align with your international flight's check-in window.
Because every Walk Through Nepal expedition is built around a fully coordinated, seamless loop, our service doesn't have to end in the capital. If your travel plans include extending your journey onward to the beautiful lakeside city of Pokhara (822 m / 2,697 ft), our team will completely coordinate those internal logistics for you.
We seamlessly manage your domestic flight or private vehicle bookings and handle your terminal transfers right from Kathmandu. Whether you are boarding your long-haul flight back home or heading out to explore the gateway of the Annapurnas, we ensure your departure is entirely fluid and stress-free up to the very last moment.